Private Equity Data Guy

In this episode, I sat down with Derek Sather, CRO at KKR-backed Education Perfect, to talk about what actually happens when someone with deep systems thinking and revenue architecture experience steps inside a PE portfolio company. Derek breaks down what it means to move from managing a pipeline to underwriting revenue, and why that shift matters more now than ever before.

We get into the real cost of messy data during diligence, what buyers are actually looking for when they dig into your revenue numbers, and why AI will amplify your chaos just as fast as it...

Holli Moeini spent 35 years as a CFO scaling companies through acquisitions before leaving corporate to help founders protect their value when going up against PE buyers. Her book, Find the Missing Millions in M&A, breaks down the five moments in every deal where money moves toward you or away from you. In this episode, she maps out each one and explains what sellers can do before they ever get to the table.

The conversation gets into the financial story, working capital, diligence, earn outs, and integration. Each one is a place where the unprepared seller loses...

Tim Schulte leads value creation at Council Capital, a healthcare-focused PE firm in Nashville. He spent years at Vista Equity Partners before building something different at Counsel. In this conversation, we get into why the playbook model breaks down across a diverse portfolio, what a toolkit approach actually looks like in practice, and what AI is doing to the work of value creation right now.

We get specific on data infrastructure, change management, and why the people question determines whether any of this works. Tim's view on AI is one I share: the tools are getting better...

Ryan Krook has spent his career at the intersection of data and operations, working inside companies like Uber, Shopify, and McKinsey before founding Pareto Apps. In this episode, we get into what it actually looks like to walk into a mid-market PE portfolio company that has never taken data seriously, and what to do about it. Ryan brings a perspective I don't hear often: he has sat on the LP side, worked as an outside consultant, and now operates hands-on inside the companies fixing the problems that matter most at exit.

What stood out to me most...

Greg Hood has spent over 20 years as a finance executive inside Canadian and US fintechs and financial services firms. He built Sky Site Analytics to help PE firms, sell-side M&A advisors, and high-growth companies fix the data layer before buyers find it first. We cover the dirty data discount, what actually breaks during exit, and why the back office is always the last to get the budget it needs.

If you have ever sat across from a buy-side team watching trust drain out of a room because three reports show three different revenue numbers, this conversation...

Shota Ishii joined me on The PE Data Guy to talk about what happens when PE-backed manufacturers cannot answer a basic question: which products are actually making money? He has spent two decades building systems that give companies a clear picture of where their cash goes, and we got into why that gap exists and what it takes to close it.

We covered working capital, data architecture, and what mid-market companies need to do right now to get their data in order before AI can do anything useful for them. Shota shared an example of a $400 million...

Shawn Olds spent two decades building AI companies and advising PE firms on what actually produces returns from the technology. He went from the 82nd Airborne to West Point computer science to co-founding Boodle Box, and along the way he has worked with over 200 companies on AI adoption. The number that should make every operating partner stop: over 80% of AI programs in portfolio companies fail. Not because the technology breaks. Because of decisions made before a single tool is ever deployed.

Shawn and I covered why context engineering has replaced prompt engineering, why CEO backing is the...

Lee McCabe joined me to talk about why private equity value creation keeps running into the same problem. The problem is messy systems, unclear metrics, and leaders making decisions without clean reporting. Lee shared how that shows up inside portfolio companies, and why the operating partner model often depends on influence, not authority.

We also got into what it takes to fix the foundation. Lee laid out where digitization pays off fastest across consumer services and B2B, plus what breaks attribution in longer sales cycles. We closed on PE firms building real brands, the role of...

I sat down with Paul Evangelista, Chief Data Officer at the United States Military Academy at West Point, to talk about what happens when decisions carry real weight. Paul spent 30 years in the Army, from engineer officer to operations research analyst, and now leads data strategy where leadership is forged under pressure. We talked about why decision literacy matters more than data literacy, how mission command principles translate to private equity portfolio companies, and why trust is the foundation of high-performing organizations.

Behind every value creation plan is a data problem. Paul breaks down how PE firms...

I've spent 20 years watching brilliant people build companies on gut instinct and prayer when it comes to hiring. After losing a million dollars on a single bad hire who tanked an entire engineering team for six months, I wanted to understand if there was actually a way to measure the thing everyone claims is unmeasurable: culture fit.

Jacob Crockett built Higher Aligned after nearly getting fired at one company for the exact same behaviors that made him a star at the next. That personal disaster led him to ask a question most people assume is impossible: can...

I sat down with Scott Golder, Senior Director of Data Science at Home Depot, to talk about what actually works when you're building data teams. Scott has spent 20+ years fixing what others couldn't, from Capital One to running algorithms behind one of the top five e-commerce platforms in the world. He breaks down why deeper academic backgrounds don't always make better data scientists, how to make AI trustworthy at scale, and what happens when you fall in love with your methodology instead of the problem you're supposed to solve.

This conversation gets into the messy reality of...

In this episode, I sit down with Ian Alden Russell to talk about something most leaders miss when they look at data. We dig into how cultural signals and qualitative insights can predict market shifts before they show up in your revenue reports. Ian shares his approach to helping companies, from luxury retail to AI startups, understand the human side of business decisions.

We explore the concept of leading indicators versus lagging indicators, why pricing can be a cultural statement, and how paying attention to narrative alignment can protect your company's value. If you've ever wondered how...

This conversation with Dr. Marquise Rivera challenged everything I thought I knew about treating chronic pain. Most of us track steps and lab panels but ignore the clearest data source we have: the body's own signals. Dr. Marquise reads what she calls the bioenergetic language of the body through applied kinesiology, muscle testing, nutrition, and trauma release. Her bar is measurable change within the first 15 minutes, confirmed by improvements in range of motion, strength, breath, and a calmer nervous system.

What struck me most was her 90% success rate and the way she approaches the body as a...

I sat down with Jordan Mix, Operating Partner at Late Checkout and founder of Startup Empire. Jordan builds, acquires, and scales community driven Internet businesses, and he's seen hundreds of founders succeed and fail. What separates the empire builders from the serial starters? It's not the idea. It's the data loops, the reinvestment cycles, and the systems that actually compound.

Jordan breaks down the ACP framework (Audience, Community, Product) and why starting with product is playing on hard mode. We dig into the metrics that reveal whether you're building something durable or just another side hustle. From...

Maddie Hill joins us to dive deep into the often misunderstood world of fitness and data, emphasizing that movement is indeed medicine. We explore how many of us, including Maddie, have navigated the overwhelming fitness landscape, often driven by outdated ideas about exercise and body image. She candidly shares her own journey from performance arts into the fitness realm, revealing how personal experiences shape coaching philosophies. In this episode, we tackle the fine balance between pushing ourselves and recognizing the importance of recovery, highlighting that true progress comes from a blend of consistent effort and self-compassion. Whether you're a...

Elliot Blacklist joins us to share his remarkable journey in scaling a CBD brand through innovative digital marketing strategies, despite fierce competition from well-funded players. We dive into how he leveraged data-driven insights to navigate the complexities of the industry, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer acquisition costs and lifetime value. Elliot’s story is not just about numbers; it’s about building unfair advantages and making meaningful connections with customers through genuine engagement. We also discuss the evolving landscape of local SEO and how it offers unique opportunities for service-based businesses to thrive. Stick around as we explore acti...

Today, we dive into the fascinating intersection of art and artificial intelligence, exploring how AI is reshaping the creative landscape. We chat with Ellery, the CEO of Voight AI, who reveals the complexities of navigating AI compliance in entertainment while advocating for the irreplaceable human touch in creativity. As we discuss the impact of AI on artists, Ellery shares her insights on why the fear isn't just about AI creating better art, but rather about it producing more of it—faster, cheaper, and easier. Together, we examine the legal implications of AI-generated content and the changing dynamics in industries li...

In a world where sales tactics often resemble a high-pressure game of “sell me this pen,” we challenge the notion that success hinges on pushing products onto disinterested buyers. Instead, we advocate for a sales philosophy rooted in genuine relationships and mutual benefit. Our compelling discussion with Assad Ali, a veteran in leveraging behavioral psychology for sales success, reveals how understanding human decision-making can elevate sales performance. We explore the notion that sales should not be about coercing a sale but about uncovering the needs of clients and driving value for them.

We also tackle the often-misunderstood rela...

How to Master Public Speaking with Data: Transform Your Communication Skills

Chuck Garcia, Columbia University professor and communication expert, joins Graeme Crawford to reveal how data transforms public speaking and leadership communication. They explore the 55-38-7 formula for first impressions, proven techniques to eliminate verbal filler words, and how treating soft skills as measurable data points can accelerate your professional growth. Chuck shares insights from coaching Fortune 500 executives and his upcoming TED talk debut.

0:00 Introduction and Chuck's TED talk announcement

4:02 The camera as a data collection tool

7:00 Breaking down the 55...

The episode of Transformed With Data podcast, Graeme Crawford talks with Michael Young, owner of an outsourced accounting firm, about the hidden patterns in small business financial data. Michael shares insights from analyzing hundreds of M&A deals at PwC and now helping small businesses navigate their finances, revealing why sophisticated data systems can actually hurt small companies and the critical indicators that predict business success. They discuss the dangers of software sprawl, why cash flow understanding matters more than perfect attribution metrics, and how private equity rollups often oversell integration benefits while underestimating the operational challenges of merging...

How to Scale Trust in the Age of AI: Data-Driven Marketing That Actually Works

Transformed With Data Episode 13:How to Scale Trust in the Age of AI: Data-Driven Marketing That Actually Works

On this episode of Transformed with Data, Graeme Crawford talks with Lauren Gibson, marketing professional and strategic brand consultant, about why traditional marketing metrics might be destroying the trust brands need to survive. Lauren shares how she's generated over 41,000 leads by scaling authentic relationship moments through her Connections newsletter and networking events. They discuss why only 22% of brands measure trust at board level...

The episode of Transformed with Data, Graeme Crawford talks with Allison Tallman, a registered dietitian, about how people fail at nutrition not from lack of data but from turning that data into self-judgment. Allison shares her approach to breaking the diet cycle through mindset shifts and reconnecting with natural hunger cues rather than obsessing over calorie tracking. They discuss the psychology behind sustainable weight loss, why the current protein myths are misleading, and how busy professionals can achieve their health goals without MyFitnessPal or constant food tracking. The conversation explores alternatives to Ozempic, the importance of metabolism health, and...

Transformed With Data Episode 11:How to Build a Data-Driven Culture: From Startup to 8-Figure Exit

The episode of Transformed with Data Podcast, Graeme Crawford sits down with Dmitri Adler, Co-Founder and Chief Solution Architect at Data Society, to discuss why most companies claiming to be data-driven actually aren't. Dmitri shares his journey from automating Wall Street work to building a bootstrapped powerhouse that achieved an eight-figure exit, revealing how the real challenge isn't in doing the analysis but in empowering everyone to use data fluently. The conversation explores why dashboards won't save your culture, what kills true...

Transformed With Data Episode 10:How to Drive 600% Data Engagement: AI Strategy Lessons from the White House

The episode of Transformed with Data podcast, Graeme Crawford talks with Dia Adams, best-selling author of "Winning With AI: A Blueprint for Corporate Leaders" and former enterprise data strategist for the White House. Dia shares how she increased engagement in the SEC's data catalog by 600% through strategic storytelling and reveals why most AI initiatives fail before they start - not because the technology isn't ready, but because organizations aren't. Drawing from her unique experience steering data transformations at Bank of America...

The episode of Transformed With Data podcast, Graeme Crawford talks about data transparency and civic engagement with Chris Piper, former Virginia Elections Commissioner. Chris discusses his role as Executive Director of Virginia's Public Access Project (VPAP), a nonpartisan organization that makes campaign finance data, election results, and legislative information accessible to citizens. The conversation explores how VPAP transforms complex government data into actionable insights, the importance of state and local politics in daily life, and how informed citizens can effectively engage with their representatives. Chris emphasizes that while federal politics gets most attention, state and local governments handle issues...

The episode of Transformed with Data podcast, Graeme Crawford talks with Dylan Anderson, head data strategist at Profusion and creator of the Data Ecosystem newsletter, about why most data strategies fail and how to build systems that actually deliver business outcomes. Dylan shares insights from his recent study of 25-30 data leaders, revealing that successful data transformation requires focusing on business value over technology choices, and that most organizations are more excited about using AI to improve data quality and existing infrastructure than pursuing cutting-edge agentic AI. The conversation explores the critical gap between data architecture and action, emphasizing...

The episode of Transformed With Data Podcast, Graeme Crawford talks with executive coach Glen Hellman about why smart people often make terrible business decisions and how to avoid decision paralysis. Glen, recently recognized as a top executive coach by Inc. Magazine, shares insights on how too much data can actually hinder decision-making, why our brains are wired for simple choices rather than complex analysis, and practical strategies for making better choices in business. They discuss the importance of simplifying decisions, understanding your ideal clients, embracing failure as a learning tool, and recognizing the role luck plays in entrepreneurship.

Scale Your Business With Data Episode 6:Why Measuring the Wrong Thing Can Destroy Your Business: Data Lessons from Vietnam to Modern Analytics.

On this episode of Scale Your Business With Data podcast, Graeme Crawford talks with Gurwinder Bhogal about the critical importance of measuring what truly matters in business and life. Drawing from historical examples like the McNamara Fallacy from the Vietnam War, they explore how focusing on easily quantifiable metrics while ignoring qualitative data can lead to catastrophic outcomes. The conversation delves into modern applications of data measurement, from social media metrics and sentiment analysis to...

The episode of Transformed With Data, Graeme Crawford sits down with Sukhi Sahni, a senior corporate executive with 20 years of experience in data-driven storytelling and brand communication. They explore how the battle for attention has shifted beyond simple views to meaningful engagement metrics, discussing how authentic human connection combined with strategic data insights drives real business outcomes in today's fragmented digital landscape. The conversation covers the evolution of marketing metrics, the impact of AI on content creation and customer journeys, and why data should be directional rather than definitive in making multi-million dollar decisions.

Chapter Timestamps:

The episode of Scale Your Business with Data, Josh Greene, CEO and founder of The Mather Group, discusses why Wikipedia is one of the internet's most trusted data sources and its growing importance in the AI era. Josh explains how Wikipedia's human-curated content has become a key source for large language models, making it increasingly valuable for businesses to ensure their Wikipedia presence is accurate and up-to-date. He shares insights on navigating Wikipedia's editing rules, managing online reputation, and adapting to changes in Google search results that now favor user-generated content from platforms like Reddit and Quora.

0:09...

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Transformed With Data Episode 3:From Data Service Desk to Strategic Partner: Building Business Value with Tris Burns

The episode of Scale Your Business With Data podcast, data leadership coach Tris Burns discusses how data teams can evolve beyond the traditional service desk mentality to become strategic business partners. He shares insights on developing emotional intelligence for data leaders, building connections with stakeholders, and creating data-driven cultures that maximize ROI. Tris emphasizes that successful data leadership requires...

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The episode of Transformed with Data, Chloe Temple shares her unique journey using data for personal transformation. The founder of popp® discusses her self-developed tracking system called "Me We Be," which helped her overcome depression and transform her approach to leadership by monitoring nine life segments for over seven years. Chloe also draws on her experience as a retail buyer where she used customer behavior data to optimize store layouts and merchandising. Her insights on how supermarkets strategically place products and h...

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Scale Your Business With Data Episode

Nick White Reveals How Data Strategy Transforms Business Decision-Making

The episode 1 of Scale Your Business with Data, Graeme Crawford speaks with Nick White, a data strategy leader with over 20 years of experience transforming how organizations leverage their information assets. Nick shares his expertise on bridging the gap between collecting data and making it useful for decision-making, the challenges of KPI alignment in corporate environments, and how AI implementation is reshaping the...